Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US and worldwide, with one in five Americans developing skin cancer by the age of 70. Education about sun safety is a vital step toward reducing your risk and enjoying the outdoors safely. Since unprotected exposure to the sun during youth can lead to increased lifetime risk for skin cancer, it is especially important that children know how to safely spend time in the sun. The good news is that UV-related health effects are largely preventable by instituting sun-protection practices early and consistently.
NEEF's SunWise program is a free environmental and health education program that teaches K-8 children about sun safety, UV radiation, and stratospheric ozone. Educators, parents, caregivers, and others who register for the SunWise program receive a FREE toolkit with over 50 cross-curricular, standards-based activities that encourage young people to explore, assess, and understand their natural environment and how it affects their health.
Interested in the SunWise Toolkit but not sure what to expect? Check out the sample activities below, which include educator and student pages that guide both the leader and the participant through the material—no prior knowledge necessary!
- Who Am I? SunWise Animals designed for grades K-2.
- Sunny Crossword designed for grades 3-5.
- Hot Potato with the Sun designed for grades K-2.
- Speedy Sun Relay Race designed for grades 3-5.
- Sunny Says designed for grades K-2.
- SunWise Word Search designed for grades K-2.